(It was a particular thrill for hardcore fans, as Jackson had announced on Facebook that he wouldn’t be at the big-time con. But then, hardcore fans have already been tracking the film on the Facebook page and on the film’s blog, which recently revealed a picture of Thorin Oakenshield and his company of dwarves.)

Jackson told the crowd that he’s on a break after finishing the first 60 days of shooting for "The Hobbit," and that he has about 200 days left, according to the Associated Press. He also said he’s enjoying the shoot more than he expected after a similar long shoot for “The Lord of The Rings."

The first Hobbit film is expected in 2012. We’ll see whether it tips the popularity scales back in Tolkien's direction. But it's interesting to remember that “The Lord of the Rings” wasn’t an instant success when it was first published. We may need to wait a few decades more to see how Martin and Tolkien fare in a matchup for posterity.